French word

savant

Pronunciation

IPA/savɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounscholar

Example

Un savant connaît beaucoup de choses.

A scholar knows a lot of things.

Illustration for savant (scholar)

More examples

Le savant a publié un article accessible au grand public.

The scholar published an article accessible to the general public.

Core concept

A knowledgeable scholar studying texts, ideas, or evidence within an intellectual field.

Similar words

spécialiste: A person with deep knowledge and skill in a particular field.
chercheur: A researcher who conducts experiments or investigations to discover new facts.
expert: A person whose specialized knowledge supports sound judgments or useful advice.
professeur: A teacher who instructs students and guides their studies at a school or university.

Definition in French

Personne reconnue pour l'étendue et la profondeur de ses connaissances dans un ou plusieurs domaines scientifiques ou intellectuels.

Word origin

Savant is a noun formed from the old present participle of savoir, inherited from Latin sapere and associated with knowledge.

Usage tips

  • The final t in French savant is silent, so the word ends with a nasal vowel rather than a pronounced t.

Other meanings

  • scientistnoun

Word lists with this word